By road, Petrópolis and Guarapari are about 271 miles (436 km) apart, or roughly 7 h 27 min of driving.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
Full advisory: Brazil. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Total distance | 271 mi (436 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 7 h 27 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-040 → CMG-393 → RJ-186 → ES-297 → BR-101 → ES-480 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 10.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
The Petrópolis–Guarapari drive in a few lines
BR-101 (77 mi) and RJ-186 (64 mi) carry about 52% of the 271 miles. It runs through 3 states: Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo. None of the 4 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Petrópolis to Guarapari: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–10 | 10 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 10–24 | 14 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 24–25 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 25–68 | 43 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 68–70 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais |
| CMG-393 | 70–98 | 28 | Minas Gerais |
| RJ-186 | 98–162 | 64 | Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro |
| ES-297 | 162–190 | 28 | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 190–267 | 77 | Espírito Santo |
| ES-480 | 267–271 | 4 | Espírito Santo |
- Mile 69 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Minas Gerais (state line)
- Mile 104 of this route: Minas Gerais → Rio de Janeiro (state line)
- Mile 187 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Espírito Santo (state line)
Where to stop on the way to Guarapari
- Nature and outdoors: Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 15), Serra das Torres Natural Monument (mile 204), Itabira Natural Monument (mile 221), Frade e a Freira Natural Monument (mile 226)
- Museums and history: Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (mile 15), Serra das Torres Natural Monument (mile 204), Itabira Natural Monument (mile 221)
Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument
The Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument is a municipal natural monument, a protected area in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
Serra das Torres Natural Monument
Covering about 10,459 hectares of Atlantic Forest in Atílio Vivácqua, Mimoso do Sul and Muqui, the Serra das Torres Natural Monument was created in 2010 to protect the peaks of a mountain range in southern Espírito Santo.
Itabira Natural Monument
Itabira Natural Monument is a protected area in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, listed in the natural monument category.
Frade e a Freira Natural Monument
Created by state decree in 2007, the Frade e a Freira Natural Monument is a state-run protected area in Espírito Santo spanning parts of Itapemirim, Cachoeiro de Itapemirim and Vargem Alta.
When you get to Guarapari
Praia dos Padres
A small strip of sand at Meaípe in Guarapari, Praia dos Padres is known as a haunted spot and owes its name to an exorcism episode.
More drives to Guarapari
- Campos dos Goytacazes to Guarapari
- Rio das Ostras to Guarapari
- Governador Valadares to Guarapari
- Teresópolis to Guarapari
- Juiz de Fora to Guarapari
- Ipatinga to Guarapari
From Petrópolis to other places in Brazil
- Petrópolis to Guaratinguetá
- Petrópolis to Pindamonhangaba
- Petrópolis to Jacareí
- Petrópolis to Caraguatatuba
- Petrópolis to Bragança Paulista
- Petrópolis to Paranapiacaba
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Petrópolis to Guarapari?
About 7 h 27 min of driving without stops, over 271 miles.
How far is Guarapari from Petrópolis by car?
About 271 miles (436 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Petrópolis to Guarapari drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Petrópolis to Guarapari?
In order: BR-040, CMG-393, RJ-186, ES-297, BR-101 and ES-480. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Petrópolis and Guarapari?
Closest to the road: Pedra do Elefante Natural Monument (natural monument, mile 15, 3 mi from the route); Serra das Torres Natural Monument (natural monument, mile 204, 4 mi from the route); Frade e a Freira Natural Monument (protected area, mile 226, 1 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.